Smurfit Westrock plc

The company was established as a box-maker in the Rathmines area of Dublin, Ireland in 1934 and was acquired by Jefferson Smurfit in 1938, trading afterwards as Jefferson Smurfit. It was listed on the Irish Stock Exchange in 1964 and acquired a partial interest in Time Industries, a Chicago -based paper and packaging company, in 1974. Jefferson Smurfit grew under the leadership of the founder's son, Sir Michael Smurfit, who became Chief Executive in 1977.

It merged its 46%-owned US business with Chicago -based Stone Container Corporation to form Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in 1998.

Jefferson Smurfit was the subject of a management buyout financed by Madison Dearborn Partners, Cinven Limited and CVC Capital Partners in 2002. It merged with Kappa Packaging [ nl ] in 2005, changing its name to Smurfit Kappa, and was the subject of an initial public offering in 2007.

In 2012 it bought Orange County Container, a US-based packaging company, for $340 million. In 2016 it acquired two Brazilian Companies for €186 million.

In September 2023, it was announced that Smurfit Kappa and the Sandy Springs, Georgia -headquartered corrugated packaging company, WestRock had agreed to merge, to create one of the world's largest paper and packaging producers. It was confirmed in the circular and prospectus that the transaction will be conducted by Smurfit Kappa acquiring WestRock and then changing its name to Smurfit Westrock, and that the Smurfit Kappa Group shareholders and board would represent the majority of the combined entity. The transaction completed on 5 July 2024.